Want to help make Ireland a more accessible place? Let’s make change together.

Why not become an advocate and influence local and national issues that affect you and others who are blind or vision impaired. There are different ways you can get involved, so you can choose what suits you best.

National Advocacy Network (NAN)

You can join the National Advocacy Network. By signing up you will receive updates on NCBI’s advocacy, policy and campaigning activities. Through these updates, you will be presented with opportunities to become more active if you would like to do so.

To join complete the form below.
National Advocacy Network Sign up Form

Alternately you can call the Policy and Advocacy Team Tel: 01 830 70 33.

Local Advocacy Network (LAN)

You are invited to join a one of NCBI’s Regional Local Advocacy Networks (LANs). Members of the LAN come together to advocate for change on issues affecting them in their local area, as well as working on NCBI’s National advocacy campaigns. The LANs meet on a monthly basis and are currently taking place online.

The local advocacy groups will be run by you, the advocates, and supported by the Advocacy team. NCBI provides training for facilitators and for LAN members on how to affect change in your local area.

The breakdown for the current Regional Local Advocacy Networks is below.

Mid-West Region: Limerick, Clare, Tipperary  

South-East Region: Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, Carlow  

South Region: Cork, Kerry 

North-East Region: Louth, Meath, Cavan, Monaghan 

West Region: Galway, Mayo, Roscommon 

East Region: Kildare, Dublin, Wicklow  

We also have two advocacy networks that have a specialised focus, that are also open to anyone who is blind and vision impaired across Ireland. These are:

Local Advocacy Network on Access
Local Advocacy Network on Employment

Coming soon…

We are also looking for facilitators for the following regional LANs, if you would be interested in joining and/or facilitating a LAN in these areas, please let us know by emailing campaigns@ncbi.ie. Remember, the NCBI Advocacy Team provide training and support to all LAN facilitators and members.

North-West: Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo 

Midlands Region: Longford, Westmeath, Offaly, Laois 

If you want any further information, please email campaigns@ncbi.ie or call 01 34 44 54.

More about LAN & NAN

National Advocacy and Campaigning Skills Programme

NCBI’s National Advocacy and Campaigning Programme aims to educate people who are blind, or vision impaired about their rights and responsibilities, equipping them with advocacy and campaigning skills that will empower and enable their individual and collective action to remove physical and attitudinal barriers to their full and equal participation in Irish society.
This module-based programme introduces the learner to the meaning and different forms of advocacy, and their application in a wide variety of contexts.

To find out more about further training contact us at campaigns@ncbi.ie or call the Advocacy and Policy team on Tel: 01 830 70 33.

Other Representative Opportunities

These opportunities come both within NCBI and from external sources.

You may get the chance to take part in a consultation, join a user group, answer a survey, or represent NCBI on external committees.

Every interaction counts and we encourage you to get involved.

Email us on campaigns@ncbi.ie if you would like to get involved.

Local Advocacy Network Terms of Reference

You can download the Local Advocacy Network Terms of reference document via the button below:

Become an advocate